Le Present (Present Tense) Conjugation of the French Verb remplacer

Introduction to the verb remplacer

Get the present tense conjugation of remplacer. Includes a FREE downloadable reference sheet (no email required). Alternatively if you have a lot of text to check then use our free French Grammar Checker – no registration required!

“Remplacer” means “to replace” in English. It is pronounced “rehm-plah-say”.

Table of Contents

The word “remplacer” comes from the Latin “re-” meaning “again” and “placere” meaning “to please”. In everyday French, “remplacer” is most often used to indicate the substitution or replacement of one thing or person with another.

Examples:

Je dois remplacer mon vieux téléphone. – I have to replace my old phone.
Elle a été remplacée par une autre actrice dans le film. – She was replaced by another actress in the movie.
J’ai dû remplacer le lait par de la crème dans cette recette. – I had to substitute milk for cream in this recipe.

Remplacer – About the French Present Tense

The French present tense, also known as “le présent,” is used to describe actions that are happening at the moment of speaking or for actions that are habitual, general truths, or that will occur in the near future. It’s the most basic and common tense in French.

To take a deep dive into all the French tenses then see our article on Mastering French Tense Conjugation.

Common Everyday Usage Patterns For Le Present

1. Describing Actions in the Present: The present tense is used to describe actions happening right now or at the moment of speaking. For example: “Je parle avec mon ami” (I am talking to my friend).

2. Expressing Habits and Routines: The present tense is used to talk about habitual actions or routines. For example: “Je travaille tous les jours” (I work every day).

3. Stating General Truths: The present tense is used to express general truths or facts. For example: “La Terre tourne autour du soleil” (The Earth orbits around the sun).

4. Talking about Near Future: The present tense can be used to express future actions that are very imminent or part of a planned schedule. For example: “Je pars demain matin” (I am leaving tomorrow morning).

Interactions with Other Tenses

– Present vs. Future Tense: In some cases, the French present tense can be used to express the future when the context makes it clear that the action is imminent. However, for actions further in the future or less certain, the future tense is typically used.

– Present vs. Past Tenses: To describe actions that occurred in the past, you would use the past tenses like the passé composé (compound past) or the imparfait (imperfect). The choice between these past tenses depends on the specific aspect and circumstances of the past action.

– Present vs. Conditional Tense: The conditional tense is used to express actions that are dependent on a condition. If a condition is met, the action may happen. The present tense is used for actions in the present, while the conditional is used for hypothetical or future actions based on conditions.

– Present vs. Imperative: The imperative mood is used to give commands or make requests. The present tense is used for general statements, and the imperative is used for direct orders or requests.

Understanding the French present tense and its interactions with other tenses is crucial for effective communication in French. Without it, you cannot become proficient!

Table of the Present Tense Conjugation of remplacer

Pronoun	Conjugation	Short Example	English Translation
je	remplace	Je remplace le sucre par du miel.	I replace sugar with honey.
tu	remplaces	Tu remplaces le lait par de la crème.	You replace milk with cream.
il	remplace	Il remplace le beurre par de l’huile.	He replaces butter with oil.
elle	remplace	Elle remplace la farine par de la maïzena.	She replaces flour with cornstarch.
on	remplace	On remplace le sel par des herbes de Provence.	We replace salt with herbs from Provence.
nous	remplaçons	Nous remplaçons le vinaigre par du citron.	We replace vinegar with lemon.
vous	remplacez	Vous remplacez le sucre par de la stévia.	You replace sugar with stevia.
ils	remplacent	Ils remplacent le café par du thé.	They replace coffee with tea.
elles	remplacent	Elles remplacent le beurre par de la margarine.	They replace butter with margarine.